Lavatory-fitting.



P. MUELLER.

LAVATORY FITTING.

APPLICATION FILED nov. 21, 1907.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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UNITED sTAT s rigrnn'r FFICE.

PHILIP MUELLER, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO H. MUELLER MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Decatur, Macon county, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Lavatory-Fittings; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to baths and closets, and more especially to bath and basin fittings, and the object of the same is to facilitate the attachment of the fitting to a bath tub and the coupling of a single or compound faucet thereto.

Another object is to facilitate the attachment of the fitting to a basin slab or sink and the coupling of the faucet thereto.

A still further object is to reduce the number of parts to a minimum, and to do away with any joint or coupling in the supply pipe between its connection with the service pipe and the faucet coupling.

To this end the invention consists in the provision of two nuts between which the tub wall or the basin slab is clamped, a flange and possibly a wrench hold on the inner or exposed nut, a sleeve preferably integral with said inner nut, and a. coupling for attaching the faucet to the sleeve.

The following specification sets forth one embodiment of these ideas, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a compound cock applied to the rear end of a bath tub which is shown in dotted lines, certain parts being illustrated in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a. stationary wash stand with the slab in section, illustrating the invention as applied thereto and the coupling and base of the faucet slightly removed from the sleeve. Fig. 3 is a central section through parts of this fitting, showing the inner nut as provided with a wrench hold.

The supply pipe 1 is preferably continuous from its juncture with the service pipe 3 (which juncture may be a wipe joint 2 beneath the flooring or within the wall) to and through the tub wall 1 or basin slab 5. If this pipe rises from the floor it may make a single or compound bend 6 so as to project properly through the end of the tub wall, if it projects out from the building wall it will Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 21, 1907.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

Serial No. 403,242.

make the same bend so as to pass upward through the basin slab, but if it projects outward from the building wall toward the tub or straight upward from the floor toward the slab the bend will be omitted. In any event it is a nickeled or tastefully finished pipe, and the joint with the service pipe is concealed from view.

The end of the supply pipe where it passes through the tub wall or slab is threaded exteriorl-y as at 9 for some distance, and screwed on these threads are two nuts of which the outer one 10 may have a wrench hold 11 or wings 12, and this nut bears against the outside of the tub or the bottom of the slab. The other nut is by preference rather long so as to form a sleeve 13, and projecting radially from this sleeve is a flange 1a which may or may not be provided with a wrench hold 15 on its inner or upper face. Its opposite face is preferably dished somewhat as at 16 and stands beyond the plane of the outer edge of the flange, thereby producing an annular extension 17 at the outer end of the sleeve adapted to enter the hole 18 in the tub or slab and center the nut therein. As a modification, it is possible to omit this extension, especially if the wrench hold be employed and the nuts can be set up against opposite sides of the interposed member so tightly that the fitting will be held rigidly connected therewith.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the sleeve may have its bore formed with an annular shoulder 13 intermediate the ends of the bore, said shoulder forming an abutment to limit the length of movement which may be given to the sleeve in running it on to the supply pipe. The advantage of this construction lies in the fact that an absolute stop is provided against giving the supply pipe and sleeve an excessive relative movement, thereby eliminating liability of placing such a strain on the supply pipe as would tend to destroy its connection with the main pipe 8.

The inner end of the sleeve is shown in Fig. 2 as threaded at 20 to receive the threaded end of a coupling nut 21 whose other end has an internal shoulder 22 swiveled behind a shoulder 23 at the outer end of the faucet 24. In Fig. 1 this arrangement is reversed so that the shoulder is on the sleeve and the thread is on the faucet. Either construction may be employed, or in fact other forms of coupling between the sleeve said lavatory member, said sleeve member and the faucet may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In applying this form of fitting the supply pipe is first put in place with its threaded end through the tub or slab, and then a juncture is made with the service pipe. The two nuts are next set up tight so as to clamp the supply pipe rigidly in proper position, and if a compound faucet is to be attached care is taken that the inner nuts are so adjusted as to have the sleeves truly parallel and projecting within the tub for equal distances. The single or compound faucet is then brought into position, and the stub ends of the faucets are coupled to the exposed ends of the sleeves. Thus it will be seen that this improved fitting does not require an accurate adjustment of the outer or lower nut in positions where it is difficult for the plumber to work, as he can make his last adjustment in plain view inside the tub or above the slab, and of course he can readily couple the faucets in the same position. With tubs having large rims or with basins having flanges or deep bowls it may be desirable to use winged nuts on the outside or underside so that they can be set up by hand and the final adjustments be made with the inner nuts which are in plain view.

It will be seen that, aside from the faucet and its couplings, this entire fitting comprises but three partsthe supply pipe and the two nuts of which the inner one carries the sleeve and possibly the extension.

I have used the expression lavatory member herein with the intention that it shall include all devices to which the invention is applicable, but have illustrated only a tub and a basin since they are the most common examples.

What is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a lavatory member having an opening therethrough, of a supply pipe extending through said opening, said pipe being screw threaded externally and having a locking nut threaded thereon adapted to contact with a wall of the lavatory member, and a sleeve member screw threaded to said pipe on the opposite side of having an integral outwardly-extending flange formed to provide an annular face spaced from the hub on the sleeve member, said face forming the portion of the sleeve member in contact with the face of the wall of the lavatory member opposite to that with which contact is made by said locking nut, the hub of said sleeve being of a length to project beyond the plane of said annular face to provide a portion extending within the opening of the lavatory member, and serving to substantially position said pipe relative to said opening, said hub and annular face forming means to support the supply pipe against bending under pressure.

2. The combination with a lavatory member having an opening therethrough, of a supply pipe extending through said opening, said pipe being screw threaded externally and having a locking nut threaded thereon adapted to contact with a wall of the lavatory member, and a sleeve member screw threaded to said pipe on the opposite side of said lavatory member, said sleeve member having an integral outwardly-extending flange formed to provide an annular face spaced from the hub on the sleeve member, said face forming the portion of the sleeve member in contact with the face of the wall of the lavatory member opposite to that with which contact is made by said locking nut,

the hub of said sleeve being of a length to project beyond the plane of said annular face to provide a portion extending within the opening of the lavatory member, and serving to substantially position said pipe relative to said opening, said hub and annular face forming means to support the supply pipe against bending under pressure, said sleeve having a wrench-hold extending forwardly from said flange.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the 21st day of October, A. D. 1907.

PHILIP MUELLER.

\Vitnesses:

J N0. L. WADDELL, FRED L. RIGGIN. 

